Quick Takeaway: Companies may want candidates to be passionate, but will end up firing candidates that fits their process better.

I had an interview with a very large IT company for a sales job selling Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) software to companies in the New York city metro area.

This job was in my wheelhouse since I love selling and software development. They could not have found anyone more passionate than me for this job. During the interview, I gave a great presentation showing my passion for the job and the solution I would be selling.

Outcome: I did not get the job.

The company was not convinced that I was a fit for their sales process. They overlooked my strengths and focused exclusively on what they perceived was my weakness. I explained that learning their sales process should not be a concern but the hiring manager remained unconvinced; thus, the decision to not hire me.

For the hiring manager, process trumped passion.

What is the lesson here?

When you are interviewing for a job, things like being creative, innovative and passionate might be what companies may need, but it is not what they really want.

Gary Hamel, management guru, may convince you in his pyramid of human abilities talk that companies, to thrive today, need employees that are creative, innovative and passionate but when you interview with these companies, you crudely find out that they still want employees that are obedient, diligent, intelligent and process oriented.

If you want to get a job, play it safe. Companies know how to manage process, but don’t know how to manage employees with passion. In the end, companies only hire what they know and can manage well. So before your next interview, find out what the hiring manager values more? passion or process?Good Luck!

1. Do you think companies are really looking for employees that are creative, innovative and passionate?

2. Do you think one has a better chance of getting a job by playing it safe?

3. Would you work for a company that wants you to be obedient, diligent and intelligent if they pay real well?

Let's keep the conversation going so we can learn from each other. Thanks.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jay Oza is a founder and senior innovation business development consultant at 5ToolGroup, a company that specializes in helping startups and established firms bring innovation to market within 90 days through our unique 5Tool Methodology that integrates sales, marketing, partnerships, customer development and agile/lean methodology to enable frugal or ("Jugaad") innovation. We believe that to succeed today, you have to continuously look for ways to do lot more with lot less. This is the only way to win today!

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